Method and apparatus used for biological control of agricultural pests

Abstract

An apparatus for biological control of agricultural pests and for reducing damage to crops is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable container for holding biological organisms or material. The walls of the container include a series of openings through which the biological organisms or material can pass, dispersing the biological organisms or material over a target area when the container is rotated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for spreading biological organisms, comprising:
 A drum having an inner cavity for containing biological organisms, an outer wall, a central axis, and at least one base;   At least one mount coupled to the drum, wherein the mount is configured to interface with an unmanned vehicle and to couple the apparatus to the unmanned vehicle;   A motor coupled to the base of the drum and configured to rotate the drum about its central axis; and   A plurality of openings in the outer wall of the drum, configured to allow passage of biological organisms from the inner cavity of the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the unmanned vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an aerial drone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drum's central axis is oriented substantially parallel to the ground. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the drum comprises a removable cap. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the drum comprises a motor holding area coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a drum platform and a plurality of platform mounts coupled to the drum platform. 
     
     
         8 . A method for spreading biological organisms, the method comprising:
 Containing a plurality of biological organisms in a drum having an inner cavity, an outer wall having a plurality of openings, a central axis, and at least one base;   Mounting the drum on an unmanned vehicle;   Traversing over a target area with the unmanned vehicle;   Rotating the drum by means of a motor coupled to the base of the drum, wherein the rotation causes the biological organisms to pass through the openings of the outer wall;   Spreading the biological organisms over the target area by means of at least the rotation of the drum and the traversal of the unmanned vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the central axis of the drum is oriented substantially parallel to the ground and the biological organisms are urged through the openings in the outer wall of the drum by at least gravity and the rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of mixing the biological organisms by rotating the drum. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine, in whole or in part, the path of the unmanned vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine, in whole or in part, the rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biological organisms are predatory mites. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biological organisms are selected from a group consisting of:  Amblyseius swirskii, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius califomicus, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius degenerans, Hypoaspis miles, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Aphelinus abdominalis, Aphidius colemani, Chrysoperla camea, Aphidius ervi , and  Diglyphus isaea.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an aerial drone. 
     
     
         16 . A system for spreading biological organisms, comprising:
 An unmanned vehicle;   An apparatus mounted to the unmanned vehicle, the apparatus comprising a rotatable drum having an inner cavity substantially surrounded by an outer wall with a plurality of openings; and   A plurality of biological organisms contained within the inner cavity of the drum, wherein the openings in the outer wall of the drum are configured to allow passage of the biological organisms out of the drum.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the biological organisms are predatory mites. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the biological organisms are selected from a group consisting of:  Amblyseius swirskii, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius califomicus, Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius degenerans, Hypoaspis miles, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Aphelinus abdominalis, Aphidius colemani, Chrysoperla camea, Aphidius ervi , and  Diglyphus isaea.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the unmanned vehicle is an aerial drone. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a motor coupled to the apparatus and configured to rotate the rotatable drum of the apparatus.